Nighthawks Drop Fourth of July Battle to the Mountaineers

By Thaddeus Sawyer

The Nighthawks’ July 4 contest ended with a bang, though not the kind the Nighthawks were hoping for.

As fireworks went off over the treeline in right center field on Montpelier Recreation Field, the Nighthawks (11-12-1) stranded a pair of runners in the ninth inning as they went on to lose to the Vermont Mountaineers (9-15), 5-3.

Nighthawks starter Mateo Wells looked untouchable at times, striking out nine across 5 1/3 innings. The only earned run the right-hander allowed came in the sixth inning, a Samuel Bradley RBI single after a pair of walks earlier in the inning.

The Mountaineers also posted two unearned runs with Wells. 

Though Wells struck out Mountaineers center fielder Aidan Botti to open the fourth, an errant throw on a dropped third strike that went down the first base line allowed Botti to hustle all the way to third.

Botti would then come in to score on a fielder’s choice when the throw home slipped out of catcher Cam Boardman’s glove on the tag.

Nick Mullen also smacked an RBI double to left for an unearned run in the sixth, knocking Wells out of the contest.

The Nighthawks are now 1-10 in games in which they surrender an unearned run.

Upper Valley looked to be battling back in the top of the seventh, with Jake Bell doubling home an unearned run and Levi Jones notching a sac fly, but the Mountaineers put the nail in the coffin with another two runs in the bottom of the frame.

Matthew Jackson stole home while David Alvarez doubled home the final run of the game.

Jackson’s stolen base was the Mountaineers’ league-leading 82nd of the season, five more than the Mystic Schooners at 77.

Jackson and Elliot Miles both swiped two bags.

Frank Kelly had the Nighthawks’ lone stolen base of the day, his 14th of the summer. The shortstop sits second in the NECBL in the category, three behind Vermont infielder Matthew Minckler.

Newcomer Kyle Langley recorded his first two hits of the summer to lead the Nighthawks.

After a day off Sunday, the Nighthawks will be back on the field and looking to get back over .500 on Monday against the Bristol Blues. First pitch at the Maxfield Sports Complex is scheduled for 6 p.m. Fans can stream the game live on NECBL+.